Bangladesh to boost poultry sector with US$1.44 million

The government of Bangladesh is planning to disburse BDT 100 crore (US$1.44 million) as stimulus for rehabilitating the poultry farmers who were affected by bird flu.

Presiding over a meeting to observe National Fisheries Week 2010 at his Secretariat office, Fisheries and Animal Resources Minister Abdul Latif Biswas said the amount has been sought from the Ministry of Finance in a bid to rehabilitate the flu-hit poultry farmers economically.

He said the existing interest rate for the poultry farmers is still high and recommended bringing down the interest rates for the poultry farmers to 8%.

"I seek Bangladesh Bank intervention in this regard," said the minister adding that the central bank should provide poultry farmers with special loans with easy terms and conditions.